Cruzatt Rim from High Valley - 2012/01/08

Sunday January 8th Chiyoko & I headed out to explore the Cruzatt Rim Trail from the High Valley trailhead. Excellent weather for the trip, 10.6 miles (including the side trip to Canyon Creek Falls) & about 2600' of EG. We first went up the West Ridge or St. Cloud Point Trail, there were great views on top. Then on to the junction of the connector trail to the old road over Gable Creek & on to Outlaw Point. We then continued on past Pancake Ledge to the junction with the trail / old road that goes to Canyon Creek. There is a short spur trail that goes up the South side of the creek to Canyon Creek Falls. We then doubled back and continued on the main trail to the begining of the Cruzatt Loop.
We went in the anti clockwise direction around the loop crossing Prindle Creek & coming first to Multnomah Point & then on to Cruzatt Point were to our right we could see Prindle Falls. After Prindle we took a short spur trail that led to a North East View Point on the rim. We then back tracked again & took the spur trail into the Enchanted Forest, rather than back track out of this one we bushwhacked on wards to rejoin the main rim trail. After completing the loop we considered returning by way of the Gas Pipeline & while this looked possible from the top it also looked like it crossed some private land before reaching the road & so we didn't try it, returning instead by the way we came. This gave us another opportunity to enjoy the great views at St. Cloud Point but coming down the first bit of that trail isn't easy!